Keep your landscape hydrated by mulching the soil, aerating, and following these other tips.
During summer, it can be a challenge to keep your landscape hydrated without using too much water. It can be tricky to find the balance between under-watering and over-watering, but there are steps you can take to keep your lawn and landscape hydrated without needing to water or irrigate constantly. When you consider the best times and methods for watering, and apply treatments that increase your soil’s ability to absorb that water, you can keep your lawn and landscape nourished and healthy during the hottest months.
Water at the Right Time
Water your landscape early in the morning, when air is still and evaporation is minimal. Avoid watering on windy days or at midday when water often evaporates before it can soak into the soil and do its job. If you use an automatic irrigation system, adjust your controller as the seasons change.
Know Your Soil
You want to make sure that your lawn is absorbing water properly and not contributing to excess runoff. Many soil types, such as clay, do not absorb large amounts of water easily. In that case, use short, repeated watering cycles to deliver water at a rate the soil can absorb. You may also consider amending your soil with organic matter to improve the soil’s water-holding capacity.
Water Less Frequently, But Deeper
Less frequent but deeper waterings are the most effective for keeping your landscape hydrated. Frequent, shallow watering promotes a short root system. Use a screwdriver or other probe to determine if the soil is moist to 6 inches deep. Allow the soil to dry between waterings.
Mulch the Soil
Apply a two-inch layer of mulch to your planting beds to slow the water evaporation from the soil. Mulch slows evaporation, regulates soil temperature, and helps prevent runoff. Slowing the evaporation means you won’t have to water as frequently. Mulch also helps suppress weeds.
Dethatch and Aerate
You can further increase the effectiveness of your soil’s water absorption by dethatching and aerating your lawn. Both of these treatments help improve your soil’s ability to absorb water and nutrients.
If you want your landscape to stay hydrated this summer, consider how specific treatments increase your soil’s ability to absorb and retain the water it needs to thrive in hot weather.
Scientific Plant Service Is Your Go-To Source In Landscape Healthcare
Scientific Plant Service, located in Baltimore, is a privately owned corporation, chartered in Maryland in 1957 by Frank J. Burke. We started as a full-service Arborists specializing in the care of shade trees and ornamental shrubs, but today we are a Lawn Care company that is a huge part of the community. From aquatic environments and snow management to deer and mole control, SPS has services tailored specifically for your lawn and landscape.
We offer services in Maryland, Washington, DC, and Virginia, including: Harford, Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Howard, Anne Arundel, Montgomery, Prince Georges, Talbot, Queen Anne’s, Calvert counties in MD, as well as Loudoun County, Fairfax County, Arlington, Alexandria, and Falls Church in VA. For more information, contact us online, or call us at 410-321-0970. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Pinterest.